Nijhum Deep ( Sea queen Island )

The Nijhum Deep, an island with forest and deep blue water of the Bay of Bengal in the south of Bangladesh attracts hundreds of tourists during the winter season and many are interested to visit the island.

Four decades ago, the island was under deep water. But, the alluvial island surfaced over the period and in 1972 the forest department began afforestation programmes in the island. Later, the government declared the Nijhum Deep as a `national garden’.

The Bay waves that irrigate the forest more than once a day helped grow quickly the planted Keowra, Geowra, Bain and Kakra and other valuable trees. Wild animals -the spotted deers, monkey, buffalo, snakes and 35 species of birds– made the island attractive for the tourists.

In the winter, thousands of guest birds migrate to this island to add more to its beauty. In 1978, four pair of spotted deers were released in the forest and now the number of deer has increased to around 6000. The visitors can easily watch these attractive animal.

The island has 20 kms long sandy and grassy beach that may attract thousands tourists annually if facilities and services are made available there. Oysters of various nature and snails are can be easily seen in the island. The tourists in the island can enjoy sunrise and sunset from the island.

To pay a visit in the Nijhum Deep is a bit adventurous and enjoyable. Tourists from Dhaka can avail the motor launches plying between Satarghat and Hatia Tamorddi to reach the island. From Chittagong tourists can avail sea-truck to go Hatia.

From Hatia the tourist can get transport to go Jahajmara Bazar and from there, they can go to Amtalighat or Katakhalighat by rickshaw. Boats are available there to reach the island.

Another route is that from Dhaka or Chittagong the tourists by train or road transports can reach Sonapur in Noakhali from where they can avail steamer service or sea truck from Char Jabbar ghat to go to Hatia.

A number of hotels and rest houses besides government bungalows are now available in the island for stay there.

People of the island are long been awaiting for more initiative of the island are long been awaiting for more initiative of the government and Bangladesh tourist Corporation (BPC) for exploring the potentials of the island.